MADRID — The Spanish government has fined Airbnb €64 million (about $75 million) for advertising short-term holiday rentals that did not have valid licences or proper registration, as part of a broader crackdown on unlicensed tourist accommodation during the country’s ongoing housing affordability crisis.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs found that more than 65,000 listings on
Airbnb’s platform breached local and regional rules, either because they lacked the required licence numbers or displayed licence information that did not match official records. Many also included incorrect details about hosts.
The fine — which authorities say is equivalent to six times the profits Airbnb earned from the illegal listings while they were active — is final and cannot be appealed. The ministry has also ordered Airbnb to remove or correct the offending listings immediately.
Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the move reflects the government’s effort to protect housing stock for residents, noting that short-term tourist rentals have removed many properties from the long-term rental market,contributing to rising rents and reduced availability of homes for locals.
The action comes amid broader regulatory pressure on short-term rental platforms in Spain, with regional efforts to restrict or phase out holiday lets in major cities like
Barcelona to preserve housing for full-time residents.
Airbnb has said it plans to challenge the fine in court, arguing that it has been working with Spanish authorities to comply with a new national registration system and that more than 70,000 listings have already added valid registration numbers since earlier this year.
The fine highlights growing global scrutiny of short-term rental platforms as governments try to balance tourism growth with the need to protect local housing markets.
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